Preme, a longtime collaborator and friend of Drake, responded to fan chatter about DeRozan returning to Toronto with a concise, pointed post on social media: “No LA teams want him?” The comment drew attention because of the well-documented rift between Drake and DeRozan. The two were close during DeRozan’s Raptors tenure, but relations soured after DeRozan publicly aligned with Kendrick Lamar during Lamar’s feud with Drake. DeRozan later appeared in Lamar’s Not Like Us video and attended The Pop Out concert in Los Angeles, fueling ongoing speculation about their friendship.
Drake has continued to address DeRozan publicly in recent years. On his Iceman album, Drake revisited Toronto’s biggest trade in franchise history, questioning whether the Raptors could have won a championship with DeRozan at the helm before highlighting the arrival of Kawhi Leonard. In the track National Treasure, he rapped about the mid-trajectory deal and credited Gregg Popovich with sending Toronto a “real one from Daygo.” The song rose quickly on the charts and became a focal point for basketball fans discussing the league’s history.
Drake had previously teased his stance during Vince Carter’s jersey retirement ceremony in Toronto, joking that if the Raptors ever raised a DeRozan banner, he would pull it down himself. The comments have continued to keep the DeRozan discussion in the spotlight as the free-agent landscape shifts.
There is still a basketball argument in favor of a potential reunion. Toronto has recently fortified its roster with the addition of Kawhi Leonard, positioning the team as a top contender in the Eastern Conference. If the Raptors look to add another seasoned scorer, DeRozan frequently enters the conversation as a plausible option.
Analysts have debated the fit. Some suggest that Toronto would benefit from a reliable scoring presence off the bench or as a secondary engine in late-game situations. Others question how such a reunion would mesh with the evolving core, particularly with Scottie Barnes emerging as a franchise cornerstone and the team’s shifting dynamic around Leonard’s role. The key question remains: can DeRozan complement the current lineup without disrupting team chemistry?
DeRozan spent nine seasons in Toronto, averaging 19.7 points per game and helping to elevate the franchise into regular playoff contention alongside Kyle Lowry. While Kawhi Leonard’s arrival culminated in the Raptors’ first NBA championship, DeRozan remains a significant figure in the franchise’s history for many fans.
Whether the legacy alone would overcome lingering tensions surrounding Drake’s public remarks and DeRozan’s relationship with the Toronto scene continues to be a major talking point as the free-agent period unfolds.
